IFocus
You are arguing with a Galah
- Joined
- 8 September 2006
- Posts
- 8,146
- Reactions
- 5,460
Here comes the inflation, I guess Trump can forget his rate cuts then.
View attachment 203905
The annual inflation rate in the US accelerated for the second consecutive month to 2.7% in June 2025, the highest level since February, up from 2.4% in May and in line with expectations. Prices rose more for food (3% vs 2.9% in May), transportation services (3.4% vs 2.8%) and used cars and trucks (2.8% vs 1.8%). Also, energy cost declined much less (-0.8% vs -3.5%). Prices for gasoline (-8.3% vs -12%) and fuel oil (-4.7% vs -8.6%) continued to decrease while the rise for natural gas prices remained elevated (14.2% vs 15.3%). Meanwhile, inflation fell slightly for shelter (3.8% vs 3.9%) and new vehicles (0.2% vs 0.4%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.3%, marking the largest increase in five months, and up from 0.1% in May, but matching expectations. Annual core inflation went up to 2.9% from 2.8%, but below forecasts of 3%. Monthly core CPI also rose less than anticipated by 0.2%, compared to forecasts of 0.3% and 0.1% in May. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
As long as inflation doesn't go to 9.1% again like it did under Biden. June 2022.Something has to give sooner or later; it's just a waiting game at this stage.
If the job market starts to fall, they'll be in all types of pain.
View attachment 203918
US was caught off guard during covid shortages. Thats what was originally driving this. It was the realisation that they were severely lacking against a competing superpower.
This is actually becoming a big problem.That's not to say Trump isn't a grandiose narcissistic idiot who will F everything up.
Its just that narcissists have reached leadership levels in every industry everywhere. They are all collectively F'ing things up because thats how narcissists roll.
You have confused normal narcisism, which can be a healthy and desirable state of mind, with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).This is actually becoming a big problem.
CIA have been actively recruiting them for years as they are so delusional they can pass lie detectors. Great at morphing into anything. They are now in leadership roles.
A lot of CEOs are narcissists. Their natural drive just gets them there. But they generally blow up without safety rails. Famous recent example is the titan sub that imploded. That guy was one.
I suppose its happened throughout history. There's a few different kinds. In the end they all blow up though. They can be beneficial in start-ups but not established companies imo.
As politicians, grandiose generally rise to the top while all the covert narcs drag from the sidelines. I honestly think psyc profiles probably need to weed these guys out of leadership roles in public service.
Social media has elevated a lot of them.
They cannot generally keep relationships, partnerships for too long. I think the classic Trump churn is a good example. At some point they blow everything up. Watching for the tipping point (seems to be close) is important. The market may very well drop like a stone.
Umm no. You want to point out where what I said hinted at healthy narcisism?You have confused normal narcisism, which can be a healthy and desirable state of mind, with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).
NPD is a mental health condition where people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance and use a variety of means to reinforce their delusion.
Trump is the best example of NPD one could ever hope for. He needs and seeks continual attention, and wants people to admire him. He visibly lacks the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. In Trump's case he also creates false narratives that aggrandise his (fictitious) achievements.
Clinically for NPD sufferers they present a mask of extreme confidence, however are inwardly unsure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism. In Trumps case his narcissism requires that he be surroundedby relatively incompetent but loyal sychophants who will confirm his false achiements.
You simply failed to separate a well studied mental health condition from other forms of narcissism.Umm no. You want to point out where what I said hinted at healthy narcisism?
did you chat gpt that?
You mean you chatgpt the research?You simply failed to separate a well studied mental health condition from other forms of narcissism.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with a range of narcissistic tendencies that especially see individuals rise to leadership roles. One should take care to separate occasional embellishment, charm, charisma and self confidence from NPD.
And the idea that narcissism enables the defeat of lie detector tests is specualtive. I researched your idea and found no evidence to suggest that narcissists are immune to the effects of a polygraph test or that they can consistently deceive examiners. The fact that a narcissist believes their own lies does not defeat the many elements to polygraph testing. Nor does the single narcissistic ability to lie with confidence mean they satisfy the many other conditions of NPD.
Unlike you, I typically post using researched information that substantiates a reasonable conclusion. Perhaps if you try it your posts will be clearer. And maybe you should have used Grok instead of rely on unproven ideas.
I have no idea what your point was.You mean you chatgpt the research?
Did the point completely fly over your head?
Im guessing this is blowback from pointing out your one dimensional tariff argument.
Are you saying I don't know what narcissism is?
I have never seen anyone divert an argument to "healthy narcissism" in my life. Maybe you can throw in some Vaknin next.
You npd rob?I have no idea what your point was.
The elements of narcissism are many and varied.
What you failed to do was point out the very clear distinction between normal elements of narcissism which most of us exhibit from time to time, with the mental health condition, which is best reflected by Trump. Indeed, Trump adds to the possible depths of narcissism by fostering a cult of personality. This allows him to pass off any valid criticisms of his character or comments as "fake news", thereby fostering a (false) legitimacy to his own claims.
Despite what you believe you know about narcissism, you clearly were unaware that narcissists have no special advantage over other people in beating a polygraph. If you are going to dwell on an idea you have, you might consider ensuring it is valid in future, because it was not an appropriate predicate to some of your other claims.
Trying to get your distraction back to the topic of this thread, Trump has championed himself as a master deal maker. However wrt tariffs he achieved zero settled deals in his first 90 days, just a few agreements to principles. And now, as a result of his failures, he has redefined his tariff deal to be a mere letter to a nation's leader unilaterally declaring what tariff rate will be paid by American importers of goods from those nations. He has become an international laughing stock through such bullying tactics that have actually led to countries avoiding further dealings with America. Trump cannot be trusted in the international arena because he regularly flip flops, making it impossible to have any confidence in ongoing business dealings. Not only might Trump change a nation's primary tariff rate on a whim, but he further complicates dealings by applying variable secondary tariffs to certain products or sectors, such as to copper, or steel, or to electric cars.
FYI your linked study on lie detector tests and narcissists concluded "Conflicting results about the relation between countermeasure usage and physiological responses to critical items were obtained." Or in plain language a good liar can achieve similar results to a narcissist in a polygraph test.You npd rob?
There's a whole host of studies done. Along with ex cia mentioning it. This is the kind of gaslighting they use as well. Also the problem with chatgpt experts.
Frequent Countermeasure Usage by Narcissistic Examinees in the Concealed Information Test - PMC
Narcissistic dimensions and self-assessed lie and truth-telling and detecting abilities were used to predict deliberate attempts to influence the outcomes of the Concealed Information polygraph Test. In this study, which used a fabricated murder ...pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Narcissists tend to end up believing their lies and solidify it despite it being bs. Normally mixed in with a grain of truth. Tends to fall apart with a bit of scrutiny.
The point is that its creating disinformation and cults of idiot followers. You can identify potential patterns in behaviour with narcissists as they basically follow very similar traits no matter where they are from.
It can be helpful knowing this when identifying CEOs in early start-ups (can be great at getting a company up and running) or in established companies (tend to make a mess).
Obviously in politics (chaotic).
Always double up on research as the rise of ChatGPT has created very limited answers.
Are you just using chatgpt for arguments now?FYI your linked study on lie detector tests and narcissists concluded "Conflicting results about the relation between countermeasure usage and physiological responses to critical items were obtained." Or in plain language a good liar can achieve similar results to a narcissist in a polygraph test.
If you knew about narcissism as you suggest you do, then you would also know that it exists on a spectrum. Within that spectrum are behaviours of healthy narcissism, characterised by self confidence and assertiveness which can be beneficial in work environments. Even narcissistic traits like being self-centered or seeking admiration might be annoying to colleagues but not at all harmful. It's only when narcissist's traits are at higher levels on the spectrum that narcissists exhibit pervasive and dysfunctional patterns of behavior that characterise the mental health disorder of NPD, which we are certain is the case for President Trump.
Here are just a few problems that arise for America through Trumps NPD:
- He overestimate his abilities and achievements, believing them to be superior to others. As a result of his delusional beliefs about his business acumen (littered with fraud and bankruptcies), Trump believes he can MAGA. Trump has convinced himself that his prior term as President was a period of American revival, and will now doulble down on those policies he believed responsible
- His craving for attention and validation from others, constantly seeking compliments and praise, has led to him appointing unqualied sychophants and ex-prisoners to positions of authority. As a result Trump has used Navarro's tariff framework to essentially reshore industry and add to government coffers. However the framework is a total nonsense that does not even consider tariff reciprocity and instead uses trade deficits as a basis. Furthermore, because Trump believes he knows better than his advisers, he is constantly changing both tariff rates and the products they apply to
- Trump's lack of empathy and struggle to understand or share the feelings of others means he is impervious to the effects of Bills that further disadvantage the already most vulnerable in America. Trump knows better so readily dismisses the needs and perspectives of those who are affected. This is best demonstrated by Trump signing into law the One Big Beautiful Bill which, amongst other things, increases the tax burden on America's poorest while increasing tax returns to the wealthy.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?